https://blisque.com/blogs/news.atomBlisque - News2018-08-31T11:00:00-04:00Blisquehttps://blisque.com/blogs/news/healing-cavities-and-gum-disease-with-organic-oral-care2018-08-31T11:00:00-04:002018-08-31T14:52:48-04:00Healing Cavities and Gum Disease with Organic Oral CareEMIL ISAAKOV
Cavities and gum disease are painful, unpleasant and can lead further medical conditions ranging from bad breath to heart disease.

It’s one of the many reasons why an excellent oral hygiene regimen is so important—using mouthwash, flossing every day, and brushing your teeth using proper technique. Read on for the ways organic oral care can prevent, slow or even reverse these problems.

What is a Cavity?

That shiny white stuff on your teeth? That’s called enamel. When bacteria in your mouth interacts with the sugars in foods it creates acids which can begin softening that enamel. If left untreated, the acids can eventually create a hole—a cavity—in the tooth. You might be able to see the cavity, but more commonly you’ll notice that you have one through pain (especially when eating or drinking very hot or cold foods) or pressure or sensitivity when biting down on something.

Do I Have to Go to a Dentist If I Have a Cavity?

It depends on how far along the cavity is. The first stage of tooth decay is when the outside of the tooth begins weakening and spots of soft, pitted enamel form. These are often called “microcavities” and will appear as white spots on your teeth. The good news is that it is possible to reverse these microcavities without going to a dentist (though it can’t hurt to do so).

You’ll want to continue excellent oral care. It also helps to adjust your diet to promote “remineralization” (which is the process by which begins to heal and harden again).

As you can imagine, you’ll want to avoid particularly sugary or acid foods. But you’ll also want to eat foods high in vitamin K2, such as eggs or grass-fed meat, cheese or butter (when animals are fed a diet of corn, as they are on most factory farms, the amount of K2 that gets into our food is greatly reduced).

Other foods which promote remineralization include avocados, apples, celery, and leafy bitter greens like chard or spinach. You’ll also want to avoid foods that are high in phytic acid, including grains, beans, nuts or unfermented soy.

Once the decay has penetrated the enamel, however, it’s a different story. Some people have reported using diet to completely heal the cavity, but most medical experts agree that once the enamel is gone it’s impossible for it to grow back, and a filling is the only way to stop the decay from spreading.

It’s important to visit a dentist if you get a real cavity, as the decay can spread quite fast once it breaches the enamel. At the very least, you should combine diet, an excellent organic oral care regimen, and a trip to the dentist as soon as you can.

What is Gum Disease?

The most common type of gum disease is called gingivitis. Gingivitis starts with plaque, a sticky layer of mostly bacteria that forms on your teeth. If plaque isn’t removed (by, for instance, brushing your teeth twice daily) it can form tartar, which is harder and serves as a sort of “shield” for the plaque and bacteria, making them harder to remove.

The gum around the root of your teeth is called the “gingvia” and if the plaque and tarter are allowed to build up it can become inflamed, leading to gingivitis.

Gingivitis can lead to bad breath, can cause your gums to recede or your teeth to become painful or sensitive, and you can even end up losing teeth if it is left untreated. It has also been linked to other health conditions, including respiratory disease, diabetes, and heart disease.

What Can I do About It?

So what can you do to prevent gum disease or heal it once it begins to start? There are a number of organic solutions that you can try:

Green tea has been shown to have antioxidants that reduce inflammation. This can help with the inflammation around the gums that leads to gingivitis.

Rinsing your mouth with saltwater reduces inflammation and also kills bacteria. Saltwater can also damage your teeth, however, so you won’t want to do this every day.

Baking soda and water will help neutralize acids which can cause gum disease. This is one reason our organic, all-natural toothpastes include exactly these ingredients.

Many people have found improvements after rinsing with sesame or coconut oils.

Brush two or three times a day. Make sure you use a tooth brush with soft bristles (the hard bristles can irritate the gums and exacerbate the gingivitis). Even better, use an electric toothbrush to really get rid of plaque.

Give up smoking or chewing tobacco, if you do these things.

Avoid sugary foods, such as soda or candy.

Use an organic mouthwash. Our Blisque Organic Mouthwash contains naturally mined baking soda and aloe vera inner fillet leaf juice along with other botanicals. These have been shown to reduce plaque and gingivitis.

It’s important to keep on top of any signs of gum disease. If gingivitis is left untreated it can turn into periodontitis. Periodontitis is when the inflammation in your gums creates “pockets” between your teeth and the gums. These pockets then fill with plaque, bacteria and tarter.

If you develop periodontitis, you’ll want to make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Bacteria eating at the root of the tooth can cause tooth loss. Some research has also shown that the bacteria can enter your bloodstream through your gums, possibly affecting your heart, lungs and other organs.

Why Choose Organic?

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The best line of defense against both gum disease and cavities is excellent oral care. Practicing that oral care with organic products has several benefits.

First off, our products contain no chemicals or synthetic ingredients. Looking at our labels isn’t like opening a college chemistry text—you’ll recognize every ingredient.

This also means our products are also good for the environment. No environmentally- damaging chemicals are included in the product or are used in the production process.

Everything is all-natural and 100% from the earth. If you are interested in learning news about our products or learning more about proper organic oral care, subscribe to our mailing list.

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https://blisque.com/blogs/news/get-more-out-of-organic-mouthwash-than-just-fresh-breath2018-08-31T10:30:00-04:002018-08-31T14:56:34-04:00Get More Out of Organic Mouthwash than Just Fresh BreathEMIL ISAAKOV
For years we’ve been inundated by flashy Madison Avenue mouthwash ads promising us “stronger, healthier gums”, “healthy, beautiful smiles for life”, or even that their mouthwash “kills germs that cause bad breath”.

In response, consumers have doled out countless millions of hard-earned dollars in an endless pursuit of fresher breath, brighter smiles, and fewer trips to the dentist.

And yes, most mouthwashes do a decent job freshening breath.

But on the flipside, have these slick promotions been misleading us with their additional claims about the “natural” oral health benefits each provides? Sadly, a quick peek at their ingredients list would indicate that to be true.

That’s because most popular mouthwashes actually contain synthetic chemicals that can cause more harm than good when it comes to your teeth and gums.

Let’s take a closer look now at some of those ingredients and the harmful effects they can produce.

Most Mouthwashes Contain these Harmful Ingredients

Numerous companies taut their mouthwashes as being “natural” or “organic”, but if you read through their ingredients you’ll find in most cases that assertion to be blatantly false.

Many claim to contain “natural” materials, but are instead loaded with synthetic compounds and artificial derivatives from what was once a natural raw material. Here are some of the substances found in popular mouthwashes today and their unhealthy downsides:

Alcohol, which is harmful to teeth and gums Artificial sweeteners, colorings and preservatives

There are several widely- used mouthwashes with pH values under 7, which is acidic, and there are even some with levels below 4! When combined with acidic foods and beverages that Americans consume daily, like soda pop, for example, your tooth enamel can literally start to dissolve.

Do You Have Any of these Oral Hygiene Problems?

Many people in the general population suffer from these tooth and gum problems:

Tooth decay and cavities

Inflamed, swollen or bleeding gums (gingivitis)

Bad breath (halitosis)

Plaque buildup

When your oral hygiene is not the best, to begin with, exposing your already-vulnerable teeth and gums to potentially-damaging mouthwash is a recipe for oral health disaster. And, the resulting frequent trips to the dentist to have your teeth and gums worked on can be expensive.

Do you currently suffer from any of these embarrassing and sometimes painful tooth and gum conditions?

If so, fortunately, there’s now a revolutionary, much-safer, all-natural mouthwash alternative out there that will keep your breath smelling amazingly-fresh, and your smile looking great, for many years to come!

Introducing Blisque Organic Mouthwash

Blisque Organic Mouthwash came about after many years of meticulous research and development, spurred on by the deception and negligence in the “organic” mouthwash health marketplace.

Unlike most other products out there, Blisque Organic Mouthwash contains absolutely no harsh chemical ingredients, and is also free of harmful preservatives, alcohol, fluoride, artificial colors and sweeteners, gluten, soy and other oral health-damaging materials.

It’s all-natural, pH-balanced formula promotes a healthier environment for your teeth and gums. In addition to your mouth, Blisque Organic Mouthwash also benefits your entire body’s health, along with that of our environment.

Here are a few of the many positives that Blisque Organic Mouthwash provides:

Guaranteed to freshen your breath

Helps prevent tooth decay

Provides your mouth with a pH-balanced environment to kill off harmful bacteria

Truly “Organic” Ingredients Make All the Difference!

What sets Blisque Organic Mouthwash apart from other products on the market are our amazing all-natural ingredients. Here are some of those, along with a brief description of how they benefit your mouth and body when you routinely use our product:

Organic Aloe Vera Inner Fillet Leaf Juice. Used for thousands of years as an herbal medicine, the Aloe Vera leaf’s inner fleshy layer contains several vital nutrients with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities.

Organic Clove Bud Essential Oil. Obtained from a type of evergreen tree, this oil is commonly used in general dentistry as a natural analgesic and germicide. It also provides an anesthetic effect which makes it effective for numbing toothaches and sore gums.

Organic Eucalyptus Radiata Essential Oil. There are hundreds of eucalyptus species in existence and each is comprised of differing chemical makeups. Eucalyptus radiata contains a substance called 1,8-cineole, also known as eucalyptol, which has therapeutic qualities as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent. One of the benefits of eucalyptol is killing oral bacteria that induce halitosis (bad breath).

These totally organic, USDA-certified, 100% natural ingredients found in Blisque Organic Mouthwash combine to make it both highly-effective and safe, and not just your average, everyday “organic” mouthwash.

Learn More About Good Oral Hygiene Here!

If you found the information in this article about oral hygiene to be helpful and are interested in additional free oral health tips, or to learn more about the customer-proven benefits of Blisque Organic Mouthwash, please sign up for our online newsletter now at: www.blisque.com.

When you do, you will also receive money-saving coupons to be redeemed when you purchase our unique and 100% natural, eco-friendly Blisque Organic Toothpaste or Blisque Organic Mouthwash products.

However, did you know that toothpaste has far more uses than just for maintaining a bright, healthy smile? It’s true – below, we’ll introduce you to 15 ingenious uses for toothpaste that you may have never considered.

1. Cleaning and Improving Nail Health

How many times have you removed your nail polish, only to find that you need to go back over it a couple more times with nail polish remover and a cotton ball? Toothpaste can remove that residue quickly and easily. You’ll also find that it helps to improve nail health and thickness.

2. Treating Bruises

Bruises are the result of blunt force trauma to the body – broken capillaries release blood under the skin. They can be unsightly, though. The good news is that a 50/50 mixture of skin lotion and toothpaste, mixed together, applied to the bruise, and then covered with a band-aid, can reduce the appearance of the bruise. It may take two to three nights to handle large or very dark bruises.

3. Removing Gum from Your Hair

Most of us have known someone to whom this has happened, or it may have happened to us. Chewing gum in the hair is a recipe for disaster, but it doesn’t have to mean a trip to the beauty salon or barbershop. Simply spread toothpaste over the chewing gum and allow it to sit. Eventually, the toothpaste will break down the sugars in the gum and it will come out easily.

4. Getting Stains Out of Your Carpet

Red wine. Pets. Muddy shoes. They all do a number on your carpet. In the conventional situation, you’d spend time with a stain remover, or maybe break out the steam cleaner to get rid of those stains. Toothpaste can also do the job. You’ll need a tube of toothpaste and a good brush. Apply the toothpaste to the stain, and then scrub it clean. Blot it dry with a damp, clean cloth.

5. Removing Scuffs from Shoes

Have a pair of leather shoes that have gotten scuffed up? You might be able to handle it with shoe polish, but toothpaste can do it quicker, particularly if you don't really need the polishing. You just need to apply a dab of toothpaste to the scuff, and rub it in with a soft cloth. Use a damp cloth to wipe it off and you’re all done.

6. Cleaning Rubber Surfaces

Rubber surfaces, like the toes of certain sneakers, can become grimy, dirty and scuffed very easily. Often, soap and scrubbing will do nothing to remove those marks, either. Toothpaste applied directly to the dirt or scuff, and then rubbed in with a cloth and wiped off with a damp towel can do the job.

7. Polishing Diamond Jewelry

Over time, jewelry can become dirty and dull. Toothpaste can add a bit of sparkle back to your diamond wedding ring. It can also be used on gold and silver. Just apply a bit of toothpaste to an old toothbrush, and then scrub the jewelry in question. Wipe it all down with a damp cloth, and you’ll see renewed shine.

8. Keep Facemasks from Fogging

Whether your kids are playing in the pool, or you’re on your annual vacation at the beach, facemasks are vital to the fun. However, they can fog up very easily, making it tough to enjoy time in the water. Apply a thin film to the inside of the facemask or goggles, and then wipe it out, and you won’t have to worry about them fogging up.

9. Cleaning Chrome

Chrome is all around us today, particularly in our kitchens. However, it can become dulled over time, and through wear and tear. While there are chrome restoration products on the market, you can do the same thing with a bit of toothpaste. Apply a small amount of toothpaste to the chrome in question, and then buff it out with a soft, dry cloth. You’ll be surprised at how much shine is restored.

10. Cleaning the Bathroom Sink

That bathroom sink takes a beating every day. From toothbrushing to handwashing, it can quickly build up a layer of grime. Toothpaste, which should be the handiest product at the time, can be used to remove it. Just apply some to your wet sponge, and get to scrubbing. Rinse it out when you’re done.

11. Removing Lipstick or Ink Stains

How often have you stained something blotting your lipstick? How many times have you found that your favorite pen has leaked on your shirt? Whatever the situation, toothpaste can help. Use non-gel toothpaste, and rub it into the stain (you’ll need to use some force). Rinse it out. You should notice that some of the ink or lipstick came out when you rinsed. Repeat this process until the stain’s gone.

12. Treating Pimples

Pimples are the bane of our teenage years, but they can also plague us well into adulthood. There’s no reason to let a sudden whitehead ruin your day, though. Dab a small amount of toothpaste (non-whitening, non-gel) on the pimple and let it sit overnight. It’ll dry it up and dehydrate it.

13. Stop the Maddening Itch from Bug Bites

There’s nothing like spending time out in the backyard during the summer. There’s also nothing like being eaten alive by mosquitoes while doing so. While it won’t keep the bugs away, the good news is that toothpaste can stop the maddening itch. Just apply a small amount to the bite and let it sit.

14. Getting Crayon Off the Wall

Just a dab of toothpaste and a scrub brush should be able to get crayon marks off your walls. Use a little water to clean it up completely.

15. Stop Mirrors from Fogging

Tired of getting out of the shower and being unable to see yourself in the mirror to finish your hair? A bit of toothpaste smeared on the glass and then buffed out (before you fog it up) will help prevent your mirror from fogging.There you have them – 15 ingenious ways that toothpaste can benefit your life!

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https://blisque.com/blogs/news/oral-care-practices-woman-s-life2018-07-18T19:49:00-04:002018-08-31T15:04:02-04:00Oral Care Practices and Oral Health Conditions at Different Stages of a Woman’s LifeEMIL ISAAKOV
The best practices for oral healthcare seem like they should remain consistent through life.

Brush twice daily, floss regularly, schedule regular appointments with the dentist, be frugal with your consumption of sugary foods: these tips are drilled into us from our very first dental appointments as kids.

For women, though, oral health isn’t as simple as a bulleted list of universal best practices.

On the contrary, oral health needs change throughout a woman’s life depending on age, habits, and reproductive cycle. While these changes do not fundamentally alter dental best practices—brushing and flossing regularly are things everyone should do, regardless of life stage—they can demand extra care at certain life stages.

Life Stages and Why They Matter for a Woman’s Oral Health

Oral health isn’t all about what we eat or drink, or how good we are about brushing and going to the dentist. On the contrary, oral health can also fluctuate based on hormone levels.

It is because of these fluctuations that oral care strategies can change throughout a woman’s life. Female hormone levels vary significantly during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. These changes can affect plaque buildup and even the way that the teeth react to plaque.

The simplest advice to give is that women should pay extra attention to their dental care when going through puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.

Brushing and flossing more regularly during these times is essential to protect oral health and prevent oral diseases. In particular, women tend to be more vulnerable than men to issues such as cavities, alveolar bone loss, premature tooth loss, periodontal disease (a type of gum disease), and general oral pain or discomfort.

Hormone changes can also affect the production of saliva. Women at various stages of life have reported changes in the quantity and quality of saliva produced by their saliva glands.

These shifts can have a vast range of impacts, from short-term to long. In the short-term, saliva production impacts taste and speech. Changes in saliva quality or quantity can make foods taste differently or subtly alter patterns of speech production.

On the long-term, saliva is also crucial for lubricating the teeth, maintaining the pH balance of the oral cavity, driving the earliest stages of digestion, and serve immune functions.

If saliva production is down, the mouth is just generally less healthy, which increases the risk for cavities and other types of tooth and gum damage.

These points are all just general, describing some of how natural hormonal changes can alter the course of oral health for female patients. Specific issues or symptoms are more common for given stages of a woman’s life.

Below, we have outlined some of the typical oral health complaints that women raise at different points in life.

Puberty and Menstruation

For some women, swelling and bleeding gums are symptoms that commonly manifest at the start of a period cycle. For others, periods are preceded by canker sores or cold sores.

Usually, these symptoms go away once the period starts. Sometimes, though, these issues can be more chronic. For women taking oral contraceptives, inflamed or swollen gums can be a common and chronic side effect.

Red, inflamed gums and canker sores are also common symptoms for girls going through puberty. Establishing a rigorous daily dental health routine— usually once-a-day flossing and twice-a-day brushing—is the best way to reduce these symptoms.

Pregnancy

It is not uncommon for pregnant women to experience what is called “pregnancy gingivitis.” While this issue sounds worrying, it mostly just means that pregnant women are likely to notice swelling or tenderness in their gums.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy increase blood flow to the gums, which the American Pregnancy Association says will lead to swelling, sensitivity, and irritation in the gums.

A bigger problem than the irritation and swelling is that the hormonal changes also affect the body’s ability to fight bacteria. As such, pregnancy gingivitis usually makes it easier for plaque to accumulate on the teeth, which increases the risk for tooth decay and other more serious dental problems.

So, what should pregnant women be doing to manage pregnancy gingivitis and protect their oral health?

According to the American Dental Association, pregnant women who are brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing once a day are typically doing enough to stay healthy. However, it’s never a waste of time for pregnant women to consult their dentists about oral healthcare habits.

Another complicating factor is morning sickness. Vomit is full of stomach acid, which can eat away at your teeth and cause permanent damage. Instead of brushing right away after a bout with morning sickness, the ADA recommends that women wait about 30 minutes for a full brush. In the interim, the ADA says women should rinse their mouths and teeth with a mixture of water and baking soda.

Menopause

Women experiencing menopause should consult their doctors to learn more about the mouth changes and oral health ramifications that can arise during these years.

According to Colgate, side effects of menopausal hormone changes can include burning mouth syndrome, dry mouth, changes in mucous production levels, periodontitis, and osteoporosis. From discomfort or intense pain to long-term damage to the teeth and gums, these issues should not be ignored.

In addition to consulting their dentists at the start of menopause, women should also be aware of some of the more serious oral health symptoms of this period of life. Dry mouth and receding gums, for instance, are issues that demand dental attention right away, to prevent severe and irreversible damage.

A dental professional will be able to recommend strategies for curbing both problems. Dry mouth can be treated by drinking more water, sucking on ice chips, brushing with a prescription-strength toothpaste, or avoiding things such as alcohol and spicy foods. Receding gums and the bone loss they indicate can be slowed or stopped by increasing intake of calcium and vitamin D and cutting back on alcohol and smoking.

Conclusion

Women cannot avoid the significant hormonal changes that their bodies go through at different periods of life. What can be avoided is the long-term damage that these hormonal changes can cause to the teeth and gums.

By being knowledgeable about how hormones impact oral health and vigilant about brushing, flossing, visiting the dentist, and monitoring diet, women of all ages, can ensure healthy mouths for life.

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https://blisque.com/blogs/news/effective-brushing-tips-to-keep-your-teeth-healthy2018-05-15T15:00:00-04:002018-05-15T15:00:06-04:00Effective Brushing Tips to Keep Your Teeth HealthyEMIL ISAAKOV
The majority of people in the US will brush their teeth every day. It is important to make sure that teeth are properly brushed in order to maximize the removal of plaque and to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Listed below are several brushing tips for you to optimize your oral health!

Brushing Tips

Brushing Angle

The first brushing tip that needs to be mentioned is to brush at a 45-degree angle to your gum line. Upwards for your top teeth and downwards for your bottom teeth. When the bristles are placed at a 45-degree angle, they are able to efficiently remove plaque hiding under your gum line.

Brushing Strokes

Brushing strokes are very debatable. The American Dental Association (ADA) says to “gently move the brush back and forth in short, tooth-wide strokes.” These are basically short horizontal strokes. For the inside of your front teeth, the ADA recommends brushing vertically in short “up and down strokes”.

At the NYU Dental School, Director of Education for Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Courtney Quinn, says they recommend a small, circular motion for brushing. Dr. Quinn states "we recommend brushing half on the gums, half on the teeth”.

Our advice?

Regardless of which brushing method you choose, make sure to brush gently. You do not want to apply a lot of pressure on your teeth with your toothbrush. The circular motion of brushing is usually how kids are taught to brush.

It is fine to teach your child to brush this way, as it is probably hard enough to get them to do it, to begin with!

For the rest of us, extremely short horizontal strokes, almost like vibrations, would be optimal. You do not want to scrub half your mouth with one stroke! Stay in one place with very gentle strokes and then move on to another section of your mouth.

Clean two teeth at a time.

The key to this is gentle stroking. This is why it was said only ten times! Scrubbing hard puts you at very high risk of enamel erosion which can lead to tooth sensitivity. It is important to note that these tips are only applicable to manual toothbrushes.

It is critical not to over brush because not only will it wear away enamel, but it can wear away gum tissue which will lead to receding gums!

If you are using an electric toothbrush, do not perform any additional stroking!

The electric toothbrush will do all the work for you. All you need to do is move the brush gently from one tooth to the next. Adding excessive pressure or moving your electric toothbrush from side to side will be extremely damaging. Electric toothbrushes are definitely recommended for healthy teeth because they make thousands of strokes per minute.

Some of the better models make about 31,000 strokes per minutes compared to 300 of a manual toothbrush! Because of this, electric toothbrushes are generally able to remove more plaque than a regular toothbrush.

The downside is not everyone enjoys using an electric toothbrush because it can feel irritating to the teeth and gums, almost like a tickle. However, you do accustom to them quickly.

Brushing Time

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends to brush your teeth for 2 minutes 2 times a day. Now 2 minutes might seem like a short amount of time, but in brushing time it actually isn’t.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, the average person only brushes for 45-70 seconds per day! That is less than half the time that the ADA recommends which is 4 minutes per day (2minutes x 2).

When referring to a study that had participants time themselves brushing their teeth, Ed Hewlett, DDS, professor of restorative dentistry and associate dean for outreach and diversity at UCLA School of Dentistry stated “some people thought they’d brushed for a couple of minutes, but it can be less than half a minute. Our perception of how long we’re brushing is not very accurate.”

To ensure you are bushing for a full two minutes simply use the timer on your phone. You can also get creative and play a video that lasts for a full two minutes. You can even invest in an electric toothbrush that has a built-in timer. Some electric toothbrushes will divide the 4 quadrants of your mouth into 30-second intervals!

Any way you choose is fine as long as you have completed the entire two-minute brushing duration. If you choose to brush 3 times a day that is fine too. Some people who have 5-6 meals per day might feel that their teeth feel “dirty” sooner so it is ok to add a third brushing session as long as you are brushing properly and gently. However, do not go overboard and brush more than three times in one day!

The most ideal times to brush your teeth is in the morning and in the evening. Dr. Richard Marques says "you should wait at least 30 minutes after eating to brush the teeth, otherwise the acid can damage the tooth surface. Brushing before bed is really important, as otherwise the food can sit against the surface of the teeth and cause them to decay overnight."

Quadrant Brushing

A great way to brush is to divide your teeth into 4 quadrants: Upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left. This will ensure you are brushing your mouth evenly and not just focusing the majority of your attention on a particular area of your mouth. Always start from a quadrant that you prefer, brush for 30 seconds and then go to the next quadrant. Make this a habit so that ultimately all of your teeth will be brushed equally.

Surfaces

There are three exposed sides of a tooth while brushing. These sides include the outer surface (buccal), the inner surface (lingual), and the chewing surface (occlusal). When brushing each quadrant for 30 seconds, it is crucial to divide each set of 30 seconds into three: 10 seconds per surface. The front bottom teeth are usually prone to plaque buildup which eventually calcifies into tartar. Tartar is hardened plaque and will not come off with simple brushing. Make sure to do a good job brushing in this area!

Flossing

Flossing is very important to reach the adjacent tooth surface. Without flossing, the mesial and distal surfaces of your teeth will not be cleaned properly. This creates risk for gingivitis and cavities forming between your teeth.

Flossing removes the plaque in between your teeth just like a toothbrush removes plaque on the exposed surfaces of your teeth. If you have bleeding gums while flossing, this is an indicator that pathogenic bacteria are living in your mouth. If you remove bacteria from the gum line, your body won’t send blood cells to the area to fight the infection.

Ultimately, flossing will actually reduce the occurrence of bleeding gums. After a week of flossing, bleeding should completely come to a halt. If this isn’t the case for you it is very important to see your dentist.

When flossing, make sure to scrub both sides of the adjacent tooth. You should be flossing at least once a day. The best time to floss your teeth is before going to bed and after brushing so that you don't let plaque and bacteria linger in your mouth overnight.

Always use a fresh piece of floss about 18 inches long.

If this isn’t enough, simply take another piece, but do not use floss that already collected plaque in a previous tooth!

If you are pregnant, flossing is even more important because gum disease is linked to premature and low-weight birth.

Tongue Brushing

Cleaning your tongue is just as crucial as brushing your teeth and flossing. Many people skip this step. Make sure you are not one of them! Your tongue is covered with bacteria and food particles that need to be swept away to maintain optimal oral hygiene.

“Your tongue is not smooth. There are crevices and elevations all over the tongue, and the bacteria will hide in these areas unless it is removed” says John D. Kling, DDS, of Alexandria, Virginia.

The bacteria that builds up on your tongue (and teeth) are known as a biofilm. Rinsing with water or a mouthwash will not get rid of the lower layers of the biofilm. The outer layers of the biofilm may be washed away or destroyed but this isn’t enough. The buildup of the bacteria on your tongue leads to bad breath and even tooth decay.

You don’t need a tongue scraper or a special tongue brush to clean your tongue. Your toothbrush will do just fine. Brush from as far back as you can reach and straight down. Do not apply much pressure. Brush your tongue twice a day after you have brushed your teeth. Make sure to rinse with water afterward!

Rinsing

Rinsing with water is absolutely necessary after brushing your teeth/tongue and flossing. Gargling with water is also a good idea to make sure you have washed out all the gunk and toothpaste residue from your mouth.

Using mouthwash is like the icing on the cake. It is not necessary but absolutely recommended. Mouthwash is not just used to freshen breath. “It can also reduce gingivitis (gum disease), tooth decay, tartar, and plaque, and they can whiten,” says Mark Wolff, DDS, Ph.D., chair of cariology and comprehensive care at New York University College of Dentistry. Important to note that Mouthwash is NOT a substitute for brushing and flossing.

Regular brushing and flossing will not be effective for disinfecting all the oral pathogens in your mouth. Some companies claim that brushing and flossing alone will only clean 25% of your mouth. While this might not be exactly true, it still makes sense to use a mouthwash to ensure that your oral tissue, such as your inner cheeks, lower and upper gum-line, back of your tongue and throat are properly disinfected.

Blisque Organic Mouthwash is a great addition to your oral care regimen because it will not only kill bad breath and create fresh breath for hours, it will also fight oral pathogens and provide a pH balanced environment in your mouth to neutralize bacterial acids. It does not burn or string and will not stain your teeth blue or any other color. Blisque Organic Mouthwash is completely non-toxic so you can allow the residue to remain in your mouth after rinsing. In fact, allowing the mouthwash residue to remain is something that we recommend.

Toothbrushes

There are so many toothbrushes on the market to choose from today that it can become frustrating on which one to go with. Some things to look for in a toothbrush are the brush head size and bristles. The brush head of your toothbrush should not be overly large. A smaller brush head will be better at reaching those difficult to reach areas in your mouth (molars). Electric toothbrushes already come with small brush heads for your convenience.

When searching for a toothbrush, choose one that has “soft” bristles. Skip the “medium” and “firm” bristles. Soft bristles can gently get down under the gum line to remove plaque. "Your gum is like a little turtleneck collar, and you need to get under that collar," explains Dr. Cram. "Hard and medium brushes don't do that and can actually abrade the gum.”

Going with an electric toothbrush is a great choice. Electric toothbrushes are able to remove more plaque than a manual toothbrush because of the amount of strokes they are able to achieve in a short amount of time. As mentioned before, electric toothbrushes also have built-in timers and some even let you know when you are brushing too hard!

When a toothbrush is manufactured, a machine cuts a group of bristles to make them the same height. At this point, if you took the nylon bristles under a microscope you would see that they are extremely sharp and would wear away your precious enamel.

Fortunately, there is an additional manufacturing step that treats the bristles so that they are rounded into hemispherical, soft domes. This extra step is what makes the bristles safe to use on your teeth. After being rounded, the bristles are far less abrasive than when they were freshly cut and safe to use because they will not damage your enamel. The “roundness” of these bristles begin to sharpen following 3-4 months of use and will not be as effective at removing plaque. They will also ruin your enamel. So please make sure to change your toothbrush accordingly.

When Not To Brush

After you have finished eating your meal it is best not to brush because you will have acid remaining on your teeth from the food you just ate. For this reason, it is best to wait 15-20 minutes before brushing. Within this time frame, saliva will neutralize the acids in your mouth.

If you want to get the food remnants out of our mouth after a meal, simply rinse with water or mouthwash.

A combination of acids from food paired with the abrasives in the toothpaste can negatively impact your teeth because you are helping the acid erode your enamel.

Brushing For Teeth Whitening

Most people will brush their teeth in hopes of getting their pearly whites even whiter than they already are. We all have that obsession and are constantly looking for new ways for our teeth to get a shade brighter.

A teeth whitening session at a dental clinic will cost several hundred dollars.

However, a professional teeth whitening session will be much more effective than any over the counter product, including teeth whitening strips, whitening toothpastes, and whitening mouthwashes.

Always avoid whitening toothpaste products.

These are extremely abrasive to your teeth and will do much more harm than good. Also, remember not to brush hard. Brushing with heavy pressure will not make your teeth whiter, but what it will do is scrub away your enamel just like whitening toothpaste will.

Conclusion

Before reaching for your toothbrush holder remember the tips in this article. Just as with anything else in life, the main thing is to be consistent. Try not to break the habit. Do not apply these brushing tips only for the week prior to your dental appointment. Instead, follow them on a regular basis. It might seem like a lot of work at first but it only takes a few minutes of your day. In the long run, you will avoid several dental complications and save money!

Following these tips will lead to optimal oral health and a life full of beautiful smiles!

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https://blisque.com/blogs/news/what-s-in-your-toothpaste2018-02-17T00:44:00-05:002018-04-18T17:07:29-04:00What’s in your toothpaste?EMIL ISAAKOV
Modern-day toothpaste is filled with several ingredients that the majority of us have never heard of. The bulk of these ingredients are useless and even harmful to your oral health.

Listed below are the most common ingredients found in conventional toothpaste brands:

1. Water - Run of the mill toothpaste brands use between 20% to 40% water. Water is used for moisture and to help with the consistency of the toothpaste. It is also used as a cheap filler to reduce costs for manufacturers.

2. Humectants - Humectants are substances used to preserve moisture in order to prevent drying. They also help with both the consistency and texture of the toothpaste. The most common humectant used in many toothpaste brands is glycerin.

There are speculations that glycerin prevents teeth from remineralizing because it acts like a plastic coating for your teeth (think wrapping Saran Wrap on your teeth).

This theory comes from Dr. Gerard Judd, Ph. D, stating that “Glycerine in all toothpastes is so sticky that it takes 27 washes to get it off. Teeth brushed with any toothpaste are coated with a film and cannot properly remineralize”.

Even if this isn’t accurate, glycerin has no place in your mouth. All it does is help with the consistency of your toothpaste but does not benefit your actual teeth. Some toothpaste brands use over 40% glycerin in their formulas.

Blisque Organic Toothpaste uses the best humectant that exists - organic xylitol. Xylitol does not only act as a humectant, but has been proven to provide numerous oral care benefits. It helps prevent oral pathogens from adhering to enamel and also obstructs their ability to release acids that are responsible for tooth decay.

3. Abrasives - An abrasive is defined by it’s ability of polishing or cleaning a hard surface by rubbing or grinding. The goal of abrasives is to scrub the plaque off teeth without causing damage to the enamel.

Several popular drugstore toothpaste brands use very high percentages of abrasive agents in their formulas which is actually damaging to your teeth. High levels of abrasives and/or strong abrasive agents, such as activated charcoal and diatomaceous earth, can cause erosion of your enamel.

The most common abrasives used in toothpaste are calcium carbonate and hydrated silica. You may recognize hydrated silica from those packets that say “do not eat”, which also means do not put in your mouth. Hydrated silica should be avoided at all costs because it is extremely abrasive and can weaken the enamel.

Blisque Organic Toothpaste uses baking soda and Himalayan pink salt as abrasives because they are very mild. Baking soda also neutralizes the pH in your mouth, while Himalayan pink salt provides essential minerals for your pearly whites! So not only are they excellent abrasives but they are also providing other perks for your teeth.

4. Surfactants - Surfactants can be classified as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants. The most commonly used surfactant is known as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). SLS is a very strong detergent that gives toothpaste its foaming properties. It's used in a wide range of personal care products such as soaps, shampoos, and toothpaste.

SLS is also an ingredient in industrial products such as car wash soaps, engine degreasers, and floor cleaners.

So the ingredient used to clean your car is the same ingredient used to clean your teeth! SLS is arguably the most controversial ingredient in toothpaste. It is known to be a strong irritant and a hazard for organ toxicity. SLS has also been proven in several studies to cause canker sores.

Any chemical that is similar to SLS, including SLS itself, should absolutely be avoided from your toothpaste!

Other surfactants that must be avoided are sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), DEA (diethanolamine), PEGs (polyethylene glycols) and propylene glycol. Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) is usually contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which is a strong carcinogen.

Long-term oral exposure to SLES has shown increased tumor appearances in both humans and rats. DEA (diethanolamine) is another surfactant used for its excellent foaming properties.

It is important to note that foam does nothing for your teeth other than creating an illusion of them getting cleaned. DEA can react with other toothpaste ingredients to form nitrosamines, which is readily absorbed by the oral mucosa. DEA is strongly correlated to cancer in humans and is also a hormone disruptor. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) scores DEA at a 10 - the most toxic score due to high potential for organ system toxicity and concerns about irritation and contamination.

PEGs (polyethylene glycols) are known to be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, just like SLES, and also ethylene oxide. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies ethylene oxide as a known human carcinogen and 1,4-dioxane as a possible human carcinogen.

Propylene glycol is typically used in antifreeze. It can be rapidly absorbed through the oral mucosa and cause organic system toxicity. But seriously, why would you want antifreeze in your toothpaste?

Rather than using a synthetic surfactant, Blisque Organic Toothpaste uses saponified organic plant oils to cleanse your teeth and to provide mild foaming action. This is a 100% natural and organic alternative to the surfactants listed above.

5. Thickening Agents - Thickening agents are used in toothpaste to help your toothpaste stay on your toothbrush.

Are they necessary?

Absolutely not!

A common thickener used, carrageenan, is an extract from seaweed that is known to cause inflammation to human tissue. In fact, it is such a strong inflammatory agent that is was used by drug investigators to cause inflammation so that they can then test anti-inflammatory drugs.

According to Cornucopia, “there is no restriction on the amount of carcinogenic poligeenan in the grade of carrageenan used in toothpastes”.

This is terrible news!

Stay away!

Blisque Organic Toothpaste avoids the use of thickeners.

6. Fluoride - Fluoride is a by-product of fertilizer production and heavy metal manufacturing, but now used as the main active ingredient in most toothpaste sold today to "prevent cavities.”

A toothpaste with fluoride isn't any more effective than a toothpaste without fluoride. Several studies show that fluoride does not help prevent cavities. In fact, fluoride can actually cause damage to the tissue inside of the oral cavity and even yellow your teeth!

Fluoride is a toxic waste that is internationally known as a poison. It is literally used as rat poison and as an insecticide! If you read the back of your fluoride toothpaste label it advises calling poison control if accidentally swallowed.

This itself should be enough for you to ditch the fluoride toothpaste. And if you still believe in fluoride, there is already plenty added to your tap water!

Children, because they swallow toothpaste more than adults, can suffer from cognitive impairments from ingesting fluoride.

It is very important for children to stay away from fluoride toothpaste for this reason and also because it can cause dental fluorosis which will affect the appearance of their teeth for the rest of their lives.

Blisque Organic Toothpaste completely avoids the use of any fluoride. Proper brushing, flossing, and eating habits will prevent cavities better than any synthetic chemical will.

7. Sweeteners - Sweeteners are added to the majority of toothpaste formulas in order to mask the bitter taste of typical toothpaste ingredients. A sweetener known as saccharin is usually used to sweeten toothpaste to improve its taste.

Saccharin is 300-400 times as sweet as sugar!

However, there is evidence that this artificial sweetener is linked to cancer. Saccharin is made by the oxidation of o-toluenesulfonamide, as well as from phthalic anhydride.

Does that sound like an ingredient you should put in your mouth?

Of course not!

Aspartame is another notoriously toxic sweetener used in many food products today including toothpaste. Aspartame is dangerous primarily because it can break down to methanol.

The American Cancer Society notes that the amount of methanol that aspartame breaks down into isn’t comparable to the amount found in natural foods. However, the difference is that in natural foods methanol is bonded to fiber, usually pectin, that helps to eliminate it.

When methanol is broken down from aspartame in the body, it has nothing to help it exit. With the help of enzymes found in the human body, the methanol that was not able to eliminate itself from the body eventually converts to formaldehyde, which we all know is extremely dangerous. This is why aspartame can cause birth defects, cancer, diabetes, seizures, and even emotional disorders.

Our advice?

Do not use any toothpaste or food that lists aspartame in its ingredient list.

Blisque Organic Toothpaste uses certified organic xylitol as a sweetener. Xylitol not only acts as a sweetener, but it also provides additional dental health benefits. It is also 100% natural, organic and completely non-toxic.

8. Flavors - In addition to using sweeteners, toothpaste manufacturers must include a flavor system to enhance the taste of their toothpaste.

The most common flavor of toothpaste is obviously mint.

Mint creates an illusion that tells your brain your mouth is clean.

Is this actually true? No!

That’s why it is an illusion. That being said, natural peppermint oil can provide many additional oral health benefits such as killing anaerobic bacteria that live in the mouth. However, many popular toothpaste brands use synthetic menthol and artificial cooling agents to enhance the “cool” feeling in your mouth rather than using actual natural peppermint oil. This is because natural peppermint oil is not as effective at providing a long lasting cold sensation.

Blisque Organic Toothpaste doesn’t use ingredients specifically for flavor. The essential oils and extracts create a flavor, but they are used mainly for their antimicrobial properties and not for their flavor.

9. Antibacterial agents - Antibacterial agents are sometimes used in toothpaste to kill oral pathogens. The most popular and controversial antibacterial agent is triclosan. Initially registered as a pesticide, triclosan made its way not only to toothpaste but also to hand and body soaps.

In 2016 triclosan was banned from hand soaps, but amusing that it is still allowed in toothpaste. How does it make sense to ban triclosan from a hand product but still allow it to go into your mouth? Well, there is only one large toothpaste manufacturer that was approved to use triclosan in its products. They were able to convince the FDA that triclosan’s benefits outweigh the risks in a self-funded study.

Sounds legit right? Absolutely not!

Triclosan is dangerous because bacteria can become resistant to it. The remaining strands that have the resistance genes to triclosan can continue to grow and this selective survival of resistant strains can lead to antibiotic resistance.

Furthermore, triclosan can lead to endocrine disruption. It is also linked to cancer and bone malformations. Research has found that consumers using triclosan toothpaste had five times as much triclosan in their urine compared to those who didn’t use triclosan toothpaste.

Rather than using synthetic antibacterial agents, Blisque Organic Toothpaste uses organic essential oils and extracts, along with organic coconut oil to help fight oral pathogens responsible for tooth decay.

10. Preservatives - Preservatives are used in toothpaste to help extend its shelf life. The most common types of preservatives used in toothpaste are sodium benzoate and parabens.

These preservatives are potentially carcinogenic and should be avoided.

“Of greatest concern is that parabens are known to disrupt hormone function, an effect that is linked to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity... Parabens mimic estrogen by binding to estrogen receptors on cells” stated by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC). If you see any ingredient ending in the word “paraben”, such as methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben and benzylparaben, remember this article and keep away!

Some natural toothpaste brands use citric acid to preserve the product. However, when citric acid is used as a preservative, the pH of the product will be so low that it will actually wear away your enamel! This is because a low pH presents an acidic environment.

11. Coloring agents - Coloring agents are artificial substances used to make your toothpaste appear more attractive. Common food coloring agents, FD&C blue dye #1&2, are derived from coal tar. They are linked to hyperactivity in children and cancer.

Another common dye used in toothpaste is titanium dioxide. Usually used in paint, it is also used in toothpaste to provide a pleasant white color.

There is strong evidence that titanium dioxide causes cancer.

Equally important is that titanium dioxide nanoparticles are able to penetrate into your gums and cause toxicity to your organs.

Blisque Organic Toothpaste avoids the use of any coloring agents. Our Organic Herbal Mint Toothpaste is a tan color from the oils and extracts used, while our Organic Sweet Mint Toothpaste is a beautiful light cream color.

12. Copolymers - Copolymers are binders used in most toothpaste brands today to glue triclosan and fluoride to your teeth. Copolymers, such as PVM/MA copolymer, can be highly irritating to the mucous membranes. These synthetic acrylic polymers are potential carcinogens and actually increase the side effects of fluoride and triclosan.

As you probably guessed, Blisque Organic Toothpaste uses absolutely no copolymers because there is nothing that we want to “glue” to your teeth.

Conclusion

As you can now see, the majority of toothpaste ingredients used in most commercial brands are either toxic, useless, or both. This is exactly why Blisque was created.

The toothpaste you use is very important because according to the Physician's Desk Reference, the mucosal lining inside of the mouth has an absorption efficiency of over 90 percent.

This means that toxic substances in your toothpaste can lead directly into your bloodstream!

What is important to take from this is that toothpaste is a product used several times a day by most people for their entire lives and the accumulation of using toxic toothpaste can definitely have side effects not just to your oral health but to your overall well being.

So next time you are shopping for a toothpaste, keep this article in mind.

After all, why would you want to rub a mix of sand, detergent, and flavoring agents on your teeth, twice a day, every day, for the rest of your life? Call it whitening, tartar control, or cavity protection, but at the end of the day, all of the common name brand toothpaste products are the same. Before reaching for your toothpaste or toothpaste dispenser, think of this article and shoot for a different alternative!

If you really want the best of the best, try Blisque Organic Toothpaste. We guarantee this is the safest, most effective toothpaste that is available on the market.

For more tips about oral health or to receive coupons on our products, please sign up for our newsletter at www.blisque.com.